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In Focus of WBC-RTI.INFO: Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans

6. Jun. 2018

Newsletter focused on Western Balkan countries' smart specialisation processes

The BMBWF-funded project WBC-RTI.info focused on the current process of designing smart specialisation strategies in Western Balkan countries.
 
Smart specialisation strategies (RIS 3 or S3) are about enabling regions to turn their needs, strengths and competitive advantages into marketable goods and services. They aim to prioritise public research and innovation investments through a bottom up approach for the economic transformation of regions, building on regional competitive advantages and facilitating market opportunities in new inter-regional and European value chains. They help regions to anticipate, plan and accompany their process of economic modernisation.

The S3 approach is thus characterised by the identification of strategic areas for intervention based both on the analysis of the strengths and potential of the economy and on an Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) with wide stakeholder involvement. It embraces a broad view of innovation supported by effective monitoring mechanisms. Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3 or S3) set priorities at national and regional level to build competitive advantage by developing and matching research and innovation own strengths with business needs, to address emerging opportunities and market developments in a coherent manner, while avoiding duplication and fragmentation of efforts. They are also a backbone of national or regional research and innovation strategic policy frameworks in Europe.

Since 2011, the Smart Specialisation Platform (S3 Platform) acts as a facilitator for regions and countries in the uptake and incorporation of the smart specialisation concept and methodology in their research and innovation strategies. The community is continuously growing. (Source: EC-JRC).

As part of the focus on smart specialisation, WBC-RTI.info was present at JRC's Regional Workshop on Smart Specialisation in the Western Balkans held at Ljubljana Science Park.

Further, WBC-RTI.info developed conceptual ideas on how Western Balkan countries should design and implement their smart specialisation processes:

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Tags: Balkan, smart specialisation, Southeast Europe

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